Skirt marker



y 1 1943 w; H. COLLINS 2,319,722 I V 'SKIRT MARKER Filed Jan. 10, 1941 INVENTOR waiter 'IL. CollL'Hfi BY M M 3 I ATTORNEYS Patented May 18, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,319,722 SKIRT MARKER Walter H. Collins, Summit, N. J. Application January 10, 1941, Serial No. 373,894

7 1 Claim. (01. 33-49)- This invention relates to marking devices, and

more particularly to those known as skirt markers, which have for their object an improved construction to enable a woman to mark a skirt in order that it may be properly pinned at the desired height while the skirt is being worn.

A further object is to provide a skirt marker wherein an adjustable powder dispensing device is provided with means capable of actuating the same from a distance, whereby a woman may mark a skirt at a desired distance from the ground without stooping or bending and thus causing the skirt to hang unevenly.

A particular object of this invention is to provide a skirt marker with a dispensing device which may be accurately and simply set at the desired height from the ground and in which the dispensing device may be simply pulled and easily regulated. Devices of this type are ordinarily used by a woman in her own home and must therefore be simple in construction and economical in price. In addition, they must be sturdy enough to withstand unskilled handling and improper storage.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a front View of a device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 3, showing the details of the dispensing device;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the dispensing device;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5, showing the tube-holding mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the tube-holding mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a modification of the standard which may be used;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the modification of my dispensing device;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 8i-8 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 7.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, I provide a heavy base I into which is fitted a conventional yardstick! or standard II. This may be removably held in place by the set screw I2. The standard II is provided with graduations I3, in inches or other measure, running from the ground upwardly.

Slidably mounted on the standard II is a dispensing container I which may be made, of metal, plastic, Bakelite or any suitable material.

The dispensing container I5 hasan opening I6 which encloses the standard II; A thumb screw IT at the back of the dispensing container engages the back of the standard in order to fix the position of the dispensing container with relation to the standard. The top I8 of the dispensing container I5 is constructed so that when the dispensing container I5 is placed upon the standard the top I8 will be at right angles to the standard and the angle at the point I9 will be degrees. It will be appreciated that in setting the dispensing container I5 upon the standard II an accurate adjustment may be secured by setting the dispensing container so that the point I9 is at the desired height. The bottom 20 of the dispensing container I5 curves upwardly from the back 2| to the opening 22 immediately below the flat top I8. The top It is provided with an opening 25 through which the dispensing container may be filled with powdered French chalk 26 or other marking medium. A stopper or plug 21 frictionally engages the sides of the opening 25 to seal the container.

The dispensing container [5 is also provided with a nipple 28 on the back of the top I8. This nipple engages a flexible tube 29 which runs through an opening 3|] in the supporting member 3| to a bulb 32. The supporting member 3| has an upstanding ledge 33 which is of sumcient height to protect the tube 29 from any object laid ontop of the standard. It will be appreciated that a device of this character, not being in continuous use, is often stored in closets and other places where heavy objects may be placed on top of it, thus ruining the tube 29. The ledge 33 not only prevents damage due to the above causes but also protects the tube 29 when the marker is shipped in a carton or stacked in the stores.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 6, a metal or rigid tube engages the nipple 28 and is supported by a bracket 36 on the standard II. A bulb 31 is disposed on the other end of the tube 35 in order to operate the dispensing container. It will be appreciated that in using the device the dispensing container may be set so that the point I9 corresponds with the desired height on the standard. This overcomes a disadvantage at present in other skirt markers, wherein it was necessary to allow for the shape of the marker in order that the opening in the dispensing container would be at a point opposite the desired height. It was particularly difficult to be accurate in devices of this type because the graduations on the standard were hidden by the dispensing device. Because of the flatness of the top l8 and the fact that the angle at the point I9 is a 90-degree angle, greater accuracy is thus provided.

Devices of this type present attractive toys to children and there was always a danger that the bulb 32 would be squeezed thus dispensing the powder 26 over articles which should not be marked. It is also true that certain materials require less marking powder than others. In order to overcome these factors I provide, in the modified form shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, a stopper 50 which has a depending flange 5| which acts as a valve nut to control the flow of air through the nipple 28 and consequently the flow of powder through the opening 22. Where materials show marking powder readily, the standard 50 may be turned slightly to allow the passage of a limited amount of powder. On the other hand, where full use of the marking powder is desired, the stopper 50 may be turned a quarter turn to allow the full passage of the powder past the flange 5|.

Because of the nature of my dispensing con- 7 tainer I5, it may be cheaply and mechanically molded or constructed from inexpensive materials, and the entire device may be furnished at a greatly reduced cost. At the same time a device of greater accuracy than heretofore available is presented and one which has obvious advantages over the prior art.

I claim:

In a skirt marker a standard, a dispensing container slidably mounted on said standard, said container including a back and two sides, a flat top and a curved bottom, the top forming a right angle with the back thereof, the bottom curving from the back beneath the top and to form therewith an elongated slit, an opening in said top forvthe insertion of marking material, a stopper in said opening, said stopper including a downwardly extending fin adapted to prevent the passage of material when said stopper is in one position, and to allow the free passage of said material when said stopper is in another position.

WALTER H. COLLINS. 

